Knife material costs

B

Bowzer

Joined
Sep 24, 2003
Messages
77
I have been noticing recently that there is a huge difference in price between some knives with very similar materials. I noticed that one tactical folder I looked at recently had G-10 scales, a 440C blade, and a liner lock. This one retailed for around $30. Some other tactical folders costing almost 5 times as much also have the G-10 scales and perhaps a somewhat higher grade steel (154 CM or similar). Some of Benchmade's better offerings fit very much in the second category. I am thinking (off the top of my head) that the Benchmade 710 is available with G-10 and 154 CM. Have not checked but probably a $100 plus knife. Given, it has the Axis lock, but why the high price? Is G-10 really quite expensive? Are there different grades of G-10? Perhaps much has to do with the artisan quality of the knife. Benchmades are pretty much artisan quality for a good production knife. A $30 knife is not likely to have the fit and finish of a $100 plus Benchmade.

This is not exclusive to Benchmade. Other manufacturers also produce high-end, high-price knives in similar materials. Do reputation and fit and finish alone justify the price difference? Maybe there is an effort by some manufacturers to attract a wealthier clientele by charging higher prices. If one can get the well-to-do knife buyer to buy your product and like it, maybe he or she will buy more high-price knives from your company. Just a thought.
 
The other question to consider is...how many hours of labor went into the knife. And what was the time of the people / person involved worth.
 
Every human being is made of the same materials. None of us alike.

It's also a matter of how thick the materials, how well heat-treated the steel, how carefully manufactured, what goes into the warrantee, how much the workers get paid (US as compared to China, say).

And there is a premium for knives by established manufacturers, whose products are expected to hold up under harder use for a longer time.
 
There are many factors. First depending on where you buy g-10 from depends on the price. Also colored g-10 tends to run a little more. How much of a volume of g10 is being purchased affects the price, etc. Much of it comes down to how much work goes into a particular knife, materials, cost of materials, etc. etc. etc. There really are too many factors to list.
 
Excellent customer service and warranties add to the cost. Reputation will add somewhat to the price of a knife. Better fit and finish will definitely add to the price, and so it should. Country of manufacture will also make a difference; sometimes a big difference.

Many companies spend a great deal of money on research and developement. These companies will also be more likely to do costly testing of their knives as well. Top notch quality control doesn't come cheap. There are companies that reduce their costs by knocking off other companies designs. You don't have research and developement and design costs when you do this.

Another cost for manufacturers is advertising. You don't see a lot of expensive advertising for cheap knives.

There are a lot of things that go into the price of a knife. Materials are usually a very small percentage of this price.
 
The cost of materials is actually probably pretty low, considering how much actual material goes into every knife (not very much). Mostly, it's a question of fittings and quality. This is very difficult for the average consumer to understand. "Wait, you mean the numbers don't tell me what's better?" It's a very subjective thing. And it's the difference between consumer items and professional-grade items. Professional-grade items cost more, and it looks like (by the numbers) you're getting as much as an item that costs much less. But a good heat treatment is VERY important, as is good fit of the parts. Go out, examine a low-end 30$ knife, and then handle a knife that costs 300$. Even though the 30$ knife might have G-10 handles, a titanium liner, and unobtanium blade(s), while the 300$ knife has G-10 handles, steel liners, and ATS-34 or equivalent steel, you'll find the 300$ one is much better and of much higher quantity.
 
Most knives have similar value or cost of raw materials. Marketing is the biggest price factor!

Collecter
 
Heat-treating conditions/standards/procedures, which are essentially 'invisible', can greatly influence both the quality of the knife and the cost of production. Anybody think that a $10 knife is H/T'd with any special care?


Larry
 
I don't know about the Smith and Wessons (Taylor Cutlery) folders. Several posts I have read have been quite critical. I would not really consider them fully "tactical" knives. They are mainly like some cars. Some cars are made to look sporty, while others are truly sports cars.

This is perhaps one way of looking at the price variable in knives. Sure, a Mitsubishi Spyder is going to look sporty to the average consumer. It will have a certain level of performance above the average sedan. But it is no match for a Ferrari or even a Corvette. Some knives are probably above the average cheap knife while still retaining a good price point. However, one will pay for the higher quality control, tighter manufacturing tolerances, and better fit and finish that go into the high-end knife.

I also think that marketing is clearly a big part of the price of anything manufactured. Labor costs are also a large factor.

I have one S&W folder and find the quality overall to be pretty decent. The lock up on mine is solid and it seems well-made for the price. I do not think it equals the fit and finish of my one Benchmade folder, but it is probably a large step above the average 420 steel knife.

Thanks for posting everyone!
 
Here's an example,

When Springfield Armoury anounced their new XD pistols there was a huge fuss by the Glock crowd because the magazines were comparing the to pistols...well, the XD was actually already produced in Croatia as the HS2000 and was being sold here in the US for under $300...since it got the XD label it's price has increased to $490. Same pistol!

Also, Gaston Glock has been quoted saying that he'd still be making money if his pistols sold for $85. They retail for approx. $550.

It's all marketing!

Collecter
 
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